Wilder frustrated with fixture pile-up ahead of Colchester clash

James Heneghan

Cobblers boss Chris Wilder has once again reiterated his frustration with the early season pile up of fixtures, claiming it plays into the hands of the bigger clubs in League Two, ahead of tonight’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash against Colchester United.

Wilder branded the relentless run of fixtures as “absolutely ridiculous” with Northampton currently in the middle of nine games in 28 days.

The schedule eases up somewhat after this weekend’s home clash against Dagenham & Redbridge, with three games in the following 20 days.

Wilder said: “I think everyone knows how honest I am with my assessment of my team and my views.

“The amount of games we’re playing in this first month is absolutely ridiculous, and then we go into September when we have three free midweek slots – it’s just ridiculous.

“It plays into the hands of the bigger clubs in the division with the amount of players they have.

“I just don’t understand nine games in 27 days at the start of the season. There’s no midweek games next month, but we have to get on with it.

“It’s a tough schedule but we’ve got to find a way to get through it and get a result.”

The schedule has been particularly tough on the Cobblers, who have had trips to Accrington Stanley and Newcastle United in the space of four days, though Wilder was quick to praise the Northampton fans.

He added: “I’m not moaning about the travelling to Newcastle because it was a great experience for us and for the players to play up against top class players and it was a great experience for the fans as well.

“The supporters were absolutely outstanding against Newcastle and yet again on Saturday.

“For them to go up to Newcastle on Tuesday and then to Accrington on Saturday is an absolute first class effort from those guys.”

Wilder also confirmed he would make changes for tonight’s game against League One side Colchester despite being restricted by the competition’s rules.

“We’re required to play six players from our starting 11 from Saturday’s game or our next game so we can’t make big changes but we want to do well and we want to progress,” he continued.

“We will make changes because obviously the workload that the players have had and the travelling we’ve had to do.”